February 13, 2020 • travel
Experience Riga, Latvia, Like Hannah Brown on ‘The Bachelorette’
Whatever you do, don’t overlook Eastern Europe — especially the Baltic states — when it comes to planning an overseas getaway. Riga, Latvia’s capital, is the country’s biggest city and home to hundreds of years of cultural and culinary traditions.
Hannah Brown traveled to the region on Season 15 of “The Bachelorette” and experienced both romantic and adrenaline-filled dates during her stay. If Riga’s on your travel list, you won’t want to miss out on these excursions.
Arrival
Jump right into your Latvian vacation by starting in the heart of the city. Downtown Riga is home to some top-notch hotels, including the Pullman Riga Old Town and the Gallery Park Hotel & Spa.
Once you set your bags down at your hotel, start your vacation with a stop at Colonel Brew Pub & Kitchen for tasty bar food in a rustic environment. Waffle sandwich, anyone?
One-on-one date: Baring it all for love
Here are three words you never thought you’d hear in one sentence: naked bungee jumping. Speak that phrase into existence and take a leap of faith with your date on day trip to Sigulda, Latvia. The two of you can harness up together and bungee jump 141 feet bare naked.
If you still want to bungee jump but don’t feel comfortable doing so in your birthday suit, fear not — it’s not required for thrill-seekers who venture to Gauja National Park to take the leap sans clothing. Dressed or not, this will be one outing you and your date will always remember.
If you questioned your date’s trust or confidence at all before, you certainly won’t after this adventure!
Group date: New love in Old Town
You might need a more laid-back day (or recovery) after naked bungee jumping. If that’s the case, wander over to Riga Central Market.
Between 80,000 and 100,000 people reportedly visit this market — the largest in Europe — every day because it serves as a central part of the city’s food scene. With more than 3,000 different stalls, you can buy all types of souvenirs and produce, from cheese to vodka to meat. Maybe your date will even surprise you with a bouquet of flowers!
One-on-one date: Say spa-ah
If you want to maintain that calmer pace and experience some authentic traditions, be sure to visit Latvia’s famous saunas and bathhouses. These buildings, which date back hundreds of years, hold a prominent place in Baltic culture. Get ready for you and your date to heat things up, because saunas top the bucket list for Latvia.
Spa-goers typically sit in a piping-hot sauna (as in, over 175 degrees Fahrenheit) and then jump in a much colder pool to help bring body temperatures back down. Make it more physical with some aromatherapy swatting, where spa masters lightly swat you with oak or birch branches. You and your date can also exfoliate with honey masks and body scrubs. Going to a spa has never sounded sexier!
After you’re all relaxed, you and your date will see that you two can handle any heat that comes your way.
Rose ceremony
Before you leave, catch another glimpse of ancient Latvian history at the House of the Blackheads, built in 1334. It’s the perfect place to stroll the halls with your partner and soak up the timeless art and architecture surrounding you. Share a kiss under a chandelier and end your day together on a romantic note.
During your trip, it'll be nothing but rosy in Riga!